Abstract: This study aims to reveal the underlying structure of the experience of ambiguous loss and explore how general aspects of the loss are embodied and embedded in the case under investigation. The research used a qualitative approach to the studied phenomenon: interpretive phenomenological analysis. The data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight children aged 10–16 who experienced the disappearance of one or both parents due to the war. The findings challenge stage-based and closure-oriented models of grief, emphasizing the nonlinear, embodied, and relational “nature” of children’s experience of ambiguous loss. Ambiguous loss disrupts children’s sense of time, continuity, and meaning, producing affective ambivalence, depressive alienation, and the coexistence of parallel timelines of life with and without the lost parent.
Abstract: Russia’s war against Ukraine (February 2022 – ongoing) has generated a large-scale humanitarian emergency characterized by widespread trauma, prolonged uncertainty, and mass displacement. In contrast to prior conflicts, it has been marked by nationwide attacks, urbanized warfare, digitally mediated trauma exposure, and societal fragmentation – factors that have created extensive mental health needs and prompted the rapid launch of diverse mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and describe MHPSS interventions implemented for residents of Ukraine affected by the war. A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Studies were eligible if they reported such interventions implemented from February 2022 through to the search date. A substantial body of evidence was identified, capturing a diverse landscape of mental health supports. Study designs were heterogeneous but dominated by early-stage evaluations, particularly single-group pre–post studies, with few controlled trials. Interventions addressed diverse war-affected populations, including displaced civilians, children and adolescents, military personnel, caregivers/families, and mental-health treatment providers and educators. Programs clustered into six categories: digital mental health, trauma-focused therapies, low-intensity psychosocial interventions, creative/play-based approaches, multimodal rehabilitation, and workforce capacity-building. The most common clinical targets were anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and stress. This scoping review maps a rapidly expanding, digitally enabled, multitiered MHPSS landscape for war-affected residents of Ukraine, characterized by scalable delivery and adaptation of evidence-based models. However, the evidence base remains largely early-stage, with limited long-term evaluation and persistent gaps for underserved populations, highlighting the prolonged psychological consequences of ongoing war.
Abstract: Individual adaptation to climate hazards (e.g., create an emergency plan) and collective climate action (e.g., participate in a protest) arises from the interplay of numerous variables. Traditional linear models often fail to capture this complexity. This study employed a supervised machine learning (ML) approach to address two questions: first, how accurately ML models – incorporating a theory-transcendent set of 94 variables ranging from trust in relevant actors to climate emotions – predict climate adaptation intention and collective climate action compared to sparse, linear models based on established theories; and second, which variables are most important for these predictions. Data were collected in 2024 from 4,246 participants in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and the United States using representative quota sampling. We applied models of varying complexity, including three ML algorithms (Elastic Net, Random Forest, Gradient Boosted Decision Trees), to predict climate adaptation intention and collective climate action. The ML algorithms substantially improved predictive performance beyond linear regressions grounded in established theories, particularly due to their capacity to model numerous variables. Climate emotions (particularly enthusiasm, guilt, and isolation), general coping styles and age were key predictors of both climate adaptation intention and collective climate action. Additionally, media exposure to climate change and extreme weather, along with social support for these issues, emerged as important predictors. These findings underscore the complexity of predicting climate adaptation and mitigation efforts due to the large number of interacting variables. We discuss potential leverage points for future research, such as climate emotions and the social amplification of climate change impacts through media and interpersonal channels.
Abstract: In 2018, the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) published a report summarising the evidence on Internet- and mobile-based psychological interventions (IMIs) for the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. Given the rapid developments in this field, an updated narrative review was conducted to provide a broad overview of the literature addressing multiple perspectives on the use of IMIs. The review outlines the definition, types, purposes, and current evidence of IMIs; examines the emerging role of AI; and discusses practical considerations, including limitations and challenges (e.g., adverse effects, legal and ethical issues), implementation barriers, inequalities and inclusion, and their current use in routine care. Results across these domains paint a nuanced picture, summarising the potential as well as the pitfalls of IMIs. In the discussion, key conclusions emerge: IMIs that include therapist guidance tend to achieve higher adherence and more reliable clinical outcomes, while matching support to users’ needs is crucial for scalability. Tailoring content and sustaining engagement are critical determinants of success. Effective implementation of IMIs requires careful attention to ethical concerns and thoughtful integration of AI. Practical barriers, such as limited access and the digital divide, must also be addressed to ensure these interventions are adopted fairly and equitably. Overcoming these challenges will require continued cooperation among researchers, clinicians, users, policymakers, and IT stakeholders.
